Physics - Is there gravity in space question?

Question

Astronauts in the space shuttle in orbit experience weightlessness. Does this mean that there is no gravity in space? Explain what is going on.

Answer 1

There is gravity everywhere. Simply stated, gravity is the attraction one body has for another based on the mass of the bodies involved. Very large bodies, like planets, have a greater attractive force "gravity" than small bodies, like humans.

What is referred to as weightlessness in space is actually falling in a circular path. The space shuttle and everything in it is falling at a speed that takes it around the earth once every 90 minutes, more or less. Since everything, including the International Space Station, is in the same situation, they appear to be weightless.

The actual mass of those objects, people and machines, has not changed from what it was on earth.

What we call weight is an expression of how much something is attracted to the earth. At the earths surface a person who weighs 10 stone in England weighs 140 pounds in the US, Stone and pound are terms we've created to give meaning to the force of gravity in our daily lives. In orbit, two hundred miles above the earth's surface, if we measure the pull of the earth on bodies, we would register a very small weight due to the distance from the surface of the earth.

Answer 2

Yeochief explained it well up until he said "we would register a very small weight due to the distance from the surface of the earth."

The distance that the space shuttle orbits isn't far compared to the size of the earth. The difference in weight at that distance isn't much. It's about 0.8% less

Answer 3

Astrounaust experience gravity, however as they are traveling really fast the centrifugal force keep them weightless.
THERE IS GRAVITY ON SPACE, but is so small that people is uncapable of feeling it.

Answer 4

No, its called micro-gravity.

Matter causes gravity so where there is matter there is gravity.

It a little more complex but thats the the ball park.